Arda Turan has hit out at the criticism to which he and his Turkey team‑mates have been subjected following their opening defeat by Croatia and insisted that while the team can advance at Euro 2016 it is an achievement for them even to be in France.
The Turkey captain said the team had learned their lesson and would fight more on Friday night as they look for a positive result against Spain to maintain their hopes of progressing, but he defended younger members of the squad and sought to reduce the pressure on them, taking the responsibility himself. He also insisted that, 92 games into his international career, he had nothing to prove.
There was such a serious look on Turan’s face that he was asked what the matter was when a question opened with the observation: “Mostly, you’re funny but today you seem annoyed.” In response, Turan admitted that he was upset and disappointed.
Turkey performed poorly when beaten 1-0 by Croatia in Paris, with Turan taken off having been unable to influence the game. The criticism has been fierce, too fierce in his eyes. “I don’t want to name names,” he said, “but we have younger players and they are doing their best to represent their country and after 15 games unbeaten [they lost to England in May] they lose only one game – only one – and they have been criticised in such a nasty way.”
“At the end of the game, I criticised myself and congratulated my team-mates. It is normal [to lose]; it happens. And it is my responsibility. I am upset and disappointed because the way they attack me in my country is really nasty.
“I have nothing to prove [against Spain]. I will do my best. If I haven’t already proven myself it is hard for me to do so now. I have worn the shirt over 90 times. I have played badly a few times but you can count them on the fingers of one hand.
“We lost only one game. We have learned our lessons and we will fight more than in the previous game. Tomorrow, we will try to play a good game and we have a great chance.
“We can still go far. If you produce a bad performance it is an underachievement but if you play well and still don’t qualify, it can still be an achievement.”
Turan had a difficult season at club level, with a Fifa transfer ban meaning that he was able to play for Barcelona only after Christmas following five months of inactivity after arriving at the Camp Nou for almost €40m from Atlético Madrid. He was unable to force his way into the Barcelona side after the ban was lifted. Asked if he intended to continue at the club he said: “I am very happy there, I want to continue. It is a dream for me to play for Barcelona. But right now I am only focused on Turkey.”
Turan recognised that the task before them is a difficult one, describing Spain, the defending champions, as one of the big favourites for the tournament, alongside Germany. It is a side he knows well and he will come up against four Barcelona team-mates: Gerard Piqué, Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets and Andrés Iniesta. “I love them,” he said. “I have a great respect for them but this is a competitive game and I will do my best for my country and so will they.”
Turkey’s assistant coach, Nihat Kahveci, who played for Real Sociedad, said that the team have been handed an extremely strong group, describing Iniesta as being worthy of being called the world’s best player and judging Sergio Ramos and Piqué the best central defenders at the tournament.
“I would like Iniesta to win the Ballon d’Or,” Nihat told the Spanish paper El Periódico, “but he doesn’t need it and I don’t think he cares. Everyone loves him and appreciates him and that is something that never happens. Neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Leo Messi have that. I love him and I wish he wouldn’t play against us. If any one has an idea how to make that happen without him being injured …”
“We did not expect to lose that first game and we have an extremely strong group but we can’t give up,” he said. “Spain always have the ball, until the opposition tire out. They are a brilliant team with no weaknesses but we have pride and heart. A Turk never surrenders; he fights to the death.”
